SIBF now open: Young UAE students among first visitors at world’s largest book fair

SIBF now open: Young UAE students among first visitors at world’s largest book fair

With 2,213 publishers from 95 countries participating, visitors to the 41st edition of the SIBF are spoilt for choice

By Lamya Tawfik Published: Wed 2 Nov 2022, 5:40 PM Last updated: Wed 2 Nov 2022, 5:43 PM

With the world's largest book fair now open in Sharjah, a familiar scene took over the emirate's Expo Centre on Wednesday: Schoolchildren bustling about — all excited to trawl through hundreds and thousands of books.

Wearing their uniforms, the students from elementary, intermediate and secondary schools filed into the centre's halls as they followed their teachers.

“My favourite subject in school is history so I’m going to buy some historical novels. I love old stories,” said Sumaya Abdulrazzaq, a ninth-grade student from Al Ola Private School.

Her classmate, Khadijah Abbas, was looking for comic books. “I love to draw anime and I love fiction so I think I’m going to buy manga stories,” she said, adding that she’s also thinking of checking out some of the workshops. Her friend Mariam Mousa said she loves cooking books.

With 2,213 publishers from 95 countries participating, visitors to the 41st edition of the book fair are spoilt for choice.

In one aisle, fourth-grade students from Buds Public School were seen browsing through the